Shah Rukh Khan’s cousin to contest elections from Peshawar

Shah Rukh Khan’s Pakistani cousin is contesting the upcoming general elections from KPK. It has long been known that the Bollywood actor has relatives in Peshawar and the family has kept in touch with King Khan despite him becoming such a global superstar. Now, Noor Jehan, Khan’s cousin, could become the next constituent from PK-77.

The politician has been a vocal proponent for women’s rights and it was this very desire – to bring about change for the female population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – that made her decide to be part of the election. Noor Jehan has, thus far, collected her nomination forms from the Election Commission and if she wins she will have a seat in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The seat was previously held by Shaukat Yousufzai but after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly dissolved completing its tenure on May 28, it has become vacant.

Hailing from the Shah Wali Qataal area, Noor Jehan will be running independently despite having initial thoughts about working for a party. Indeed, The Awami National Party (ANP) had also considered Jehan for a reserved seat for women, but unfortunately she couldn’t make it to the K-P Assembly. Noor Jehan has previously served as a councilor.

Jehan’s brother, who is the leader of her campaign, told press about how he felt politics was in his family blood and that his family had been a part of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Bacha Khan.

Noor has stated that her focus is primarily on women, as well as the constituency, ““I want to work for women’s empowerment,” Jehan said. “I’d like to focus on the problems in my constituency.”

Noor Jehan, Khan’s paternal cousin, has visited him twice. Khan himself has admitted to wanting to visit Peshawar again. The actor even reminisced about his fond memories of the cities Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. And has expressed the desire to take his kids to the city where his family is from some day.

Speaking to Geo News regarding her participation in the polls, Noor Jehan said, “I hope people support me in the same way they support Shah Rukh Khan.” Let’s see if Noor Jehan is as successful in winning over voters as Shah Rukh Khan is at winning over hearts.

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